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Strong contenders for “Best Film” highlight a tight race at the 2016 BAFTA Awards
The heavyweights were out at the 2016 BAFTA Awards. Blockbuster films like Bridge of Spies and The Revenant seemed primed to sweep the major film and directing categories, while superstar names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Maggie Smith, and Cate Blanchett came into the ceremony leading their respective acting categories.
Rebecca Wang supported the star-studded event, which was hosted at the Royal Opera House in London. In attendance was the class of the film industry, with celebrities including Best Supporting Actress winner Kate Winslet, director Steven Spielberg, and Tom Cruise.
The BAFTA Awards nominations have become known as an intriguing comparison to the Oscar nominations across the pond. This year’s BAFTA Awards gave four technical awards to the explosion-ridden action ride Mad Max: Fury Road, which was not nominated for Best Film at the Oscar’s. The Revenant, meanwhile, took three of the major BAFTA awards: Best Film, Best Director for Alejandro Iñárritu, and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.
The BAFTA Awards have risen greatly in prestige in recent years, nearly rivalling the Oscar’s in importance and popularity. This year’s BAFTA awards indicate that The Revenant and Fury Road could have big nights at the Oscar’s.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has dedicated itself to charities which provide for the year-round education of students in the moving image arts. The Scholarship Programme in particular was designed to provide higher education opportunities for students who show exceptional potential in the Arts, especially in film, television, and video games. In 2013, HRH Prince William also launched the Give Something Back campaign, allowing film studios and Academy members to support other educational programmes focused on igniting creative talent in youngsters.
Executive producer Rebecca Wang is a member of the Academy Circle and supporter of BAFTA’s charity work. Her involvement has given her a deeper understanding of the positive change that can be achieved through the Arts. “Film and television can foster fantastic creativity and innovations, but for the Arts to truly flourish, we must ensure that the younger generations have the opportunity to discover their own potential,” she said. “BAFTA is not only a leader in the UK film industry, but also in Arts-focused charity.”